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R.I. Landlords Fined for Failing to Notify Tenants about Lead Paint Hazards in Woonsocket

(Boston, Mass. – April 18, 2013) – Two Rhode Island landlords will pay an EPA penalty of $13,900 for violations of federal lead disclosure laws.

EPA alleged in a complaint that Donald Ciotola and Carol Simeone violated the federal Toxic Substance Control Act when the landlords failed to notify prospective tenants about potential lead-paint hazards in housing they owned in Woonsocket, R.I., as required by the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 and the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule.

Exposure to lead paint is a serious health concern in New England due to the age of the housing stock. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to lead paint exposure, which can cause lowered intelligence, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, hyperactivity and behavior problems. Adults with high lead levels can suffer difficulties during pregnancy, high blood pressure, nerve disorders, memory problems and muscle and joint pain.

The purpose of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act and the Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule is to ensure that prospective tenants have enough information about lead-based paint in general and known lead-based paint hazards in specific housing to make an informed decision about whether to lease a particular property.

Among other things, the Disclosure Rule requires landlords to provide prospective tenants with an EPA-approved lead hazard information pamphlet and lead warning statement; disclose the presence of known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards; and provide prospective tenants with available records and reports pertaining to lead-based paint in the housing to be leased. Property managers and owners therefore play an important role in helping to prevent lead poisoning. Violations of the federal disclosure requirements are subject to the penalty provisions set forth in the Toxic Substances Control Act.